Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-10

u
| you last. StillWorth has not however
| yet killed me. Aunt PriSSy and [ are
both in robust health, and enjoying
! ourselves each in our own way. Auntie
| has discovered that even in this little
| fishing hamlet there are plenty of ba-
| bies, going through their usual course
| of ailments, in respect of whom her
| advice and help are both appreciated.
| Just at present nearly all her time Is
| taken up by an interesting family of
seven children whose mother has net
with an accident which prevents her
from attending to her numerous Off
| them all, and, as they are most I'M
ruly lot, she finds her hands full.
! "Signor Tosti kept his word, and
| came down here to see how we were
| getting on. 1t was very amusing the
| day he came, for, in his usual style, he
wrote only to say he was coming, but
of the hour or day even he gave no
hint. | was busy painting; my model,
whom [ had drilled into moderately
| good behavior, was sitting in front of
me; auntie was knitting a pair of socks
| for one of her interesting family, and
we were all as quiet as mice, when
suddenly the door flew open, and the
| Signor burst in very much like a gust
| of wind. First he rushed at me and
violently shook my paint-brush, which,
| without thinking, / held out to him;
next he looked at my picture, and de-
| clared the perspective was all wrong;
then he rushed at auntie, and got en-
tangled in her knitting-yarn. By the
| time he was unwOund his excitement
had slightly subsidized, and so he
noticed Mr. Ray, who was standing
aside watching the performance.
"'Eh!' said the Signor sharply.
What are you doing here?
"'Only waiting to be recognized. I
once had the pleasure Of your acquaint-
ance.'
"'Pishl' rejoined the irritable Signor.
what are you doing in this part of the
world?'
lizard at work doing nothing! Be
lieve me, my character is as good now
as 1t ever was; you need not Scruple to
shake hands with me-
"'Bless you, I'll shake handsl'-doing
SO at once with hearty goodwill. But
mean to get it out of YOU'D
Get what out of me?' asked Mr..
Ray, with some alarm. Not my arm,
I hope!'
"'No, sir, but your business down
here;' and the Signor, who for some
reason seemed very suspicious, nodded
once or twice in a very wise manner;
then, turning his back on his friend, he
spoke to me.
We'll, child, how are you getting
on? Independent as ever?'
"'Quite So answered laconically.
Don't you wish it were just the re-
verse. that you might have the pleas
ure of saying, Il told you sop
"'Umphh!! How long are you going to
stay here?'
Until tire of it. Isn't it beauti-
full placer
I dare say; but it isn't natural that
a girl Of your age should bury herself
aliye down here. What do you say,
Miss Milburne?'
"'Oh, 1 think Olive is very content,
and that is everything
well. well, it vii! give her plenty
Of time for her painting and By
the-way, thought you never met Mr..
Ra-- Goodness, Ray, what are you
thinking about?'-for Mr.. Ray had
stumbled in most clumsy manner
against the Signor 'Eh-What?'-a
my model, having begged his pardon,
said something to him in low voice.
why not?'-sharply. Again Mr.. Ray
spoke, and the frown cleared off the
Signor's face. and he laughed quietly
to himself. so you have only just
known Mr.. Ray-have you? And you
are putting him on that horrid daub.'
Every true.' I answered serenely,
being quite used to the Signor's slight
ing style of criticism.
"'And pray what is that he is lug
ging over the rocks in such a desperate
manner? Is it a bolster?'-peeping
through his glasses at my work.
"'Oh, dear, no. Your glasses want
cleaning. That's a girl; or rather it
will be when it is finished
"'And who is her mOdel?'
al was thinking of aunt Prissy,' /
replied quietly.
a'Bah! AS if he would look so des-
perate over any aunt Prissy! No dis
respect to you, madam! You had bet
ter paint yourself. You would look
desperate enough then-eh, Mr.. RayT
and the Signor gave q horrid little
chuckle. We'll. pity the person. even
were he my worst enemy, who buys
this picture! [ never knew before that
Mr.. Ray was bowlegged; and the rock
Christmas pudding
Knowing the Signor of old, I was
not dismayed by his criticism, but only
too pleased that he did not say that my
picture was particularly fine that it's
sidea' was vast, and that he discarded
few superlatives which he employs
when disguised.
"By the next day had progressed
so far with my Young Fisher-Lad'
that did not need my model any Ion
ger, which 1act conveyed to Mr.. Ray,
thanking him at the same time for his
kindness and patience:
"'So!" said he, on receiving my news.
Does that mean that / am not to come
here again.
by no means!' I replied warmly,
afraid that he might think that, now
he was of no further use for me, he
could discontinue his visits. Come as
: often as you like
"'Thank you,' and then he added,
with a sudden smile, L won't take adj
vantage of your offer; you might find
me in the way if l took up my abode
| here
Terribly I agreed; but auntie is
very patient. I should leave you to her
tender mercies, and take STROLL
"'Then auntie would soon be re-
lieved.'
"'Do you know interrupted. wish
| ing to change the conversation, the
Signor thinks my picture will be hung.